Two of England's 20 worst coronavirus hotspots will be spared the harshest restrictions when lockdown ends tomorrow - despite having infection rates that are four times higher than places in Tier 3.
Latest figures reveal that Redbridge, in London, and Basildon, in Essex, have some of the highest infection rates in the country - but will go into Tier 2 from midnight.
Of 315 local authority areas, Redbridge is the 13th worst hotspot, while Basildon is 16th. The government faces mounting anger over the three tier system - with the infection rate in Tier 3 Stratford-on-Avon less than a quarter of that in these areas.
The government has been accused of making decisions "on the back of a fag packet" by Tory rebels - and a Warwickshire council has